"You what?" I snapped. "You love me? Do you care about me? Save it, Magnus. I know everything."

He stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," I whispered, stepping closer, "I know where you were all those months. I know who you were with."

His eyes darkened. "You don’t understand—"

"I understand perfectly," I cut him off. "You left me alone for months, and when you came back, you still ran to her. How long have you been lying to me, Magnus? From the beginning?"

His silence was all the answer I needed.

I shook my head. "You didn’t even hesitate to betray me, did you?"

Magnus took a deep breath, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to reach for me. "Astrid, it’s complicated."

"No, Magnus. It’s simple." I stared him down, feeling the weight of my loss settle over me. "You never loved me."

His lips parted, but before he could respond, a sharp howl echoed through the night.

Magnus stiffened. His eyes darted past me, his body tensing as more howls followed—closer this time.

I smirked. "Oh, and one more thing, Magnus..."

His gaze snapped back to me, confusion evident.

I stepped back into the darkness, my lips curling into a cold smile.

"You should probably start running."

And then, the Crimson Pack emerged from the shadows.

Dozens of glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness as wolves stepped into the moonlight. Asher stood at the front, his expression unreadable, but his stance was firm. A warrior ready to strike.

Magnus inhaled sharply, his body going rigid as he realized what was happening. "You called them?"

I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "Why wouldn’t I? After all, they are my family."

Magnus’s eyes flickered with something close to panic. He knew what this meant. The Crimson Pack was ruthless, and Magnus had stolen one of their own. Worse, he had broken me.

Asher stepped forward, his voice cutting through the cold air. "Astrid, come here."

I walked past Magnus without a second glance, standing beside my brother as my true pack surrounded me. For the first time in a long while, I felt safe.

Magnus took a step forward, but Asher growled in warning. "You don’t get to touch her. Not anymore."

Magnus clenched his fists. "Astrid, don't do this. You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

I met his gaze with nothing but cold fury. "No, Magnus. You don't know what you've started."

With one last glance at the man I once loved, I turned my back on him—forever.